3G AddOn for 1st iPhone? Possible?

Would it possible for a 3G add-on to be manufactured for the 1st iPhone? I mean, the OS knows to look for the 3G chipset, so how hard would it be to make a dock-connector 3G accessory? Battery could be saved by not having the device attached.

Would it possible for a 3G add-on to be manufactured for the 1st iPhone? I mean, the OS knows to look for the 3G chipset, so how hard would it be to make a dock-connector 3G accessory? Battery could be saved by not having the device attached.

I think it could work. What do you all think?

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Edit: I don't think think so... It would probably be very complicated!

I think that it would be, realistically, impossible. Whilst the iPhone 3G firmware knows how to work with one specific 3G chipset it expects it to be connected in a very particular way. It will not look for it on the Dock connector. So custom drivers would be required which are not permitted under the SDK agreement.

I think that it would be, realistically, impossible. Whilst the iPhone 3G firmware knows how to work with one specific 3G chipset it expects it to be connected in a very particular way. It will not look for it on the Dock connector. So custom drivers would be required which are not permitted under the SDK agreement.

It would be so difficult to do, that it would probably be nearly impossible to do, if it were possible to be made. And on top of that, it would just be cheaper in means of development and work just for people to buy the iPhone 3G.

There is no need to be rude like that, the original poster already stated that they did not have all that much knowledge on the subject, and this is still something that may be possible, even though not practical.

It would be so difficult to do, that it would probably be nearly impossible to do, if it were possible to be made. And on top of that, it would just be cheaper in means of development and work just for people to buy the iPhone 3G.

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Hmmm Okay. I thought it'd be interesting if Apple/AT&T as well could gain customers to 3G on the iPhone with a simple accessory as mentioned theoretically in my thread here. I'd be willing to pay the additional $30 for the higher data plan charges...

Hmmm Okay. I thought it'd be interesting if Apple/AT&T as well could gain customers to 3G on the iPhone with a simple accessory as mentioned theoretically in my thread here. I'd be willing to pay the additional $30 for the higher data plan charges...

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I think that Apple and AT&T would probably want people to just get the iPhone 3G, main reasons being that it is another sale, a renewed contract, and from Apple's perspective, it would be much simpler (which is Apple's way of doing things) as an all-in-one device rather than having multiple pieces.

EDIT: Could you please fix your signature, it is longer than the allowed 5 lines and it is suggested that when giving the specs of a device to list them all on one line (separated by commas) rather than giving each spec it's own line.

I think that Apple and AT&T would probably want people to just get the iPhone 3G, main reasons being that it is another sale, a renewed contract, and from Apple's perspective, it would be much simpler (which is Apple's way of doing things) as an all-in-one device rather than having multiple pieces.

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JML, another awesome point. The purpose of this thread was just me being bored and curious. I just started to play with SimplifyMedia and I was hoping there was a simple way of adding on 3G to my 1st gen iPhone (and only have to pay the $10 hike for the 3G data plan).

Then it my be possible, but very unlikely still. It would probably require the drivers to be built into the firmware (not really a problem if Apple are endorsing, or more likely making it). But the real problem I see would be size. It would probably require it's own battery as I'm not convinced it could draw enough power over the Dock connector. It would definitely require it's own antenna: 3G requires different ones to 2G. So the device would be quite large and probably quite expensive.

The other option is one like Arn posted: even bigger with it's own SIM (so it's own contract)...

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That wasn't the initial answer I was expecting, but ok. It was a legitimate question/thought. Your attitude with the post isn't appreciated. No question is stupid. You ask questions to learn, right?

Okay, well what if Apple endorses it somehow?

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Hey sorry.. I guess I used way to harsh a word... As I walked away from my computer I decided I should have used the word silly instead.. It was a legitimate question, and I should have taken the list why I thought it wouldn't be a possibility.

That looks pretty interesting (very interesting actually), but from what I gather it adds GPS functionality to phones, not 3G data capability. which I guess would be half the difference between a 2g and 3g?

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